AT&T invests more than $1.95 billion into LA improvements

Consumers are getting hungrier for better service and data access. In Los Angeles, AT&T is pushing forward on wired and wireless improvements for consumers and businesses.

Over the last three years, Big Blue has poured almost $2 Billion into opening up new pockets of LTE for thousands of LA residents, and offering up fiber lines to over 40,000 business locations.

“Continued investment in fast and reliable Internet connectivity is critical for both quality of life and economic growth in Los Angeles said Gary Toebben, President & CEO, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. “Enhanced wireless and wired connectivity is an important benefit for residents, and the expansion of fiber-optic connections helps to level the playing field for small and mid-sized businesses across the metro area.”

Hopefully we’ll soon see more of that competitive spirit for residential wired services. LA is looking into providing free basic data service to all residents over the next several years, and we know Google is investigating a Fiber roll out in Northern California. AT&T has shown that it’s game to compete, matching Google’s offerings in Austin, so fingers crossed that we Los Angelenos start seeing some better opportunities than what we currently have with cable.

Full PR below.

AT&T INVESTS MORE THAN $1.95 BILLION OVER THREE-YEAR PERIOD TO ENHANCE LOCAL NETWORKS IN GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA

LOS ANGELES, MARCH 5, 2014 — AT&T* has invested more than $1.95 billionin its best-in-class wireless and wired networks in the Greater Los Angeles area between 2011 through 2013, driving a wide range of upgrades to enhance speed, reliability, coverage and performance for residents and business customers.

Advancing its Project Velocity IP (VIP), an investment plan to expand and enhance its wireless and wired IP broadband networks, AT&T in 2013 made 615 network upgrades in the Greater Los Angeles area, including new cell sites, addition of wireless and wired network capacity, and new broadband network connections. Additionally, AT&T expanded the reach of its network, providing access to U-verse® Internet and video services to 105,000 new customer locations and delivering powerful fiber-optic connections to 42,836business locations at 1,200 multi-tenant business buildings and business parks.

“Los Angelesresidents depend on our fast and reliable Internet connections more and more every day, whether it’s instant access to files and apps at work, watching a video at home, or even receiving updates from connected cars or home monitors,” said Jace Barbin, AT&T Vice President and General Manager of Mobility, Greater Los Angeles area. “AT&T is making robust investments locally to make sure that residents can take full advantage of the latest services and tools, and that businesses have the speed they need to compete and grow.”

Notable Greater L.A.network enhancements in 2013 included:

· Launch of 4G LTE network in the Ventura-Oxnard area

· Expansion of LTE in the areas of Riverside, Simi Valley-Agoura Hills and Santa Clarita

· Installation of a Distributed Antenna System (DAS) to enhance the customer experience throughout L.A. Memorial Coliseum

“Continued investment in fast and reliable Internet connectivity is critical for both quality of life and economic growth in Los Angeles said Gary Toebben, President & CEO, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. “Enhanced wireless and wired connectivity is an important benefit for residents, and the expansion of fiber-optic connections helps to level the playing field for small and mid-sized businesses across the metro area.”

AT&T provides the nation’s most reliable 4G LTE network today, covering nearly 280 million Americans with 4G LTE service. Our 4G LTE deployment is ahead of schedule; we plan to be substantially complete with our deployment by the summer of 2014.

AT&T U-verse is delivered over AT&T’s advanced IP network and includes AT&T U-verse High Speed Internet, AT&T U-verse TV, and AT&T U-verse Voice. Customers enjoy Total Home DVR®, apps for entertainment on the go, and integrated features. AT&T was named Frost & Sullivan Video Company of the Year for 2013. U-verse TV and broadband service continually ranks higher in customer satisfaction than do services from cable companies, according to third-party surveys. (Nielsen, J.D. Power).

AT&T operates the nation’s largest Wi-Fi network** including more than 32,000 AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots at popular restaurants, hotels, bookstores and retailers, and provides access to more than 529,000 hotspots globally through roaming agreements. Most AT&T smartphone customers and U-verse customers get access to our entire national Wi-Fi network at no additional cost, and Wi-Fi usage doesn’t count against customers’ monthly wireless data plans.

For more information about AT&T’s coverage in the Greater Los Angeles area or anywhere in the United States, consumers can visit the AT&T Coverage Viewer. For updates on the AT&T wireless network, please visit the AT&T network news page.